Belt loader



Apnl 9, 1946. A. L. BUREAU 2,397,944

BELT LOADER Filed Aug. 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I I l l I I I I l 1 INVENTOR BY A.L.BURE u ATTORNY A. L. BUREAU April 9, 1946.

BELT LOADER Filed Aug. 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLL/J A. L. BUREAU BELT LOADER April 9, 1946.

Filed Aug. 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 9, 1946.

A. L. BUREAU BELT LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1942 0 mm 6E INVENTOR A.L.BUREAU.

- //ZTTORNE M 5' m km mm 6E mm vm mm Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for loading and forming ammunition belts, and in particular to the disintegrating type of belt in which the individual rounds of ammunition serve to connect adjacent interfitting links of the belt.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which will automatically load a cartridge belt with a plurality of types of ammunition in any desired ratio.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ammunition belting machine which will be capable of semi-automatically making breaks in the ammunition belt which is to be formed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ammunition belting and loading machine for all types of ammunition, which will be more convenient and eflicient in operation.

Still further objects, advantages, and improvements will be apparent from the following description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the belt loading machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine, partly in section, as seen from the right in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the link advancing mechanism with cartridges and links removed, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, particularly illustrating the timing gear and feed-stop mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the construction of the disintegrating type of ammunition belt, showing the cartridges in position, and one cartridge partly inserted in the belt.

Fig. '7 is a perspective detailed view of an individual link which forms the cartridge belt.

Fig. 8 is a detailed plan view, partly in section, of the ramming slide and link advancing mechanism, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the link advancing mechanism at the point where it is about to begin its stroke, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 except that the link advancing slide has ended its stroke, having advanced the links one position.

Fig. 11 is a detailed cross-section of the feed magazine and gates, taken on line ||--l| of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of ramming mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on line |3|3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detailed cross-section of the modified form of ramming mechanism, taken on the line l4|4 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective View of the timing gear mechanism which is used to provide intermittent feed for the gates.

gates.

Referring nowto the drawings, on which like numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, and 3 thereof, it will be seen that the belt loading apparatus may conveniently be assembled on a base plate 2| upon which is mounted a principal supporting member 22 and a source of power 23 which is preferably an electric motor connected to a suitable source of electricity. A gear box 24 is mounted on supporting member 22 and operated from the motor 23 by means of the shaft 25. This shaft drives shaft 25 through a suitable gear inside the gear box. A pinion gear 21 is, fixed to. one end of shaft 26, while the other end of the shaft is provided with a crank arm 28.

Also mounted on supporting member 22 is the link chute 29 and the feed magazine for. ammunition. This feed magazine comprises a hopper 3| and a hopper 32, separated by a partition 33. In the form of mechanism as shown the tracer ammunition 30 is contained in the hopper 3| while the ball or service ammunition 40 is contained in the hopper 32. Longitudinally disposed within the hoppers at their lower ends are placed rotary gates 34 and 35. The gate 34 (see Figs. 1, 3, and 11) is supported in hopper 3| on a spindle 36 at one end and at the other end on a short shaft 38 which extends through an opening provided in the hopper. Gate 35 is likewise supported by spindle 31 and a short shaft 39.

A timing shaft 4| (see particularly Figs. 1 and 2) is supported at one end by bearing 42, which is attached to the feed magazine, and at the other end by a bearing mounted in the bracket 43, the bracket in turn being attached to the gear box 24. A beveled gear 20 is fixed to the timing shaft at its free end beyond the bracket and meshes with the pinion 21, thus transmitting rotary movement from the shaft 26 to shaft 4|. Two timing gears 44 and 45 are fixed to shaft 4| adjacent the magazine end thereof so as to rotate with said shaft. The timing gear 44 (see Figs. 2 and 15) engages a spur gear 46 which is fixed to the end of the short shaft 38 by means of which arrangement the rotary movement of shaft 4| is transmitted to the gate 34. In a similar manner, the timing gear 45 engages the spur gear 41, attached to the short shaft 39, and thus the rotary movement of shaft 4| is transmitted to gate 35. It will be noted that in order to secure proper functioning of the apparatus, shaft 38 is longer than shaft 39.

Referring now particularly to Figure 15 it will be seen that the teeth of the timing gears extend over only a portion of their circumferences, the teeth of one timing gear being arranged in relation to the teeth of the other timing gear so that there will not be simultaneous operation of the As an example of one embodiment, spur gears 46 and 41 each have 9 teeth, while timing gear 44 is provided with 9 teeth placed over only one-fourth of its total circumference and the timing gear 45 is provided with127 teeth which extend over three-fourths of its total circumference. As a result of this arrangement, it will be seen that, while the shaft 4! is making one revolution, the toothed segment of gear 44 will drive gate 34 through spur gear 4% one complete revolution and timing gear 45 will drive gate 35-,

through spur gear 41, three complete-revolutions.

Moreover, the gear teeth on gear 44 are placed so that they will engage the spur gear '46 only when the teeth of the gear 45. are not engaging the teeth of spur gear 41. The result is an alternate intermittent uni-directional operation of the gates. In order to insure a positive stop for the gates when theyjarenot-being rOtateddisc-Shaped cams 48 and da coordinated with. the operation of timing. gears 44' and 45, respectively, are fixed to shaft 4|: for. cooperation with locking plates and 52 which are secured to. shafts 381and39 on which. are mounted the. spur gears. and 41;, respectively, Theextendingportions of the locking plates are formed in thelshapes of concave arcs whose radii. of curvature are the same as those of the outersurfaces of cams 48 and 49, with which they cooperate. Each of the cams i8 and mhasa cut-out portion along the portion of its circumference adjacent the gear teeth of its corresponding timing gear. This permits rotation of the locking plates when the spur gears are in mesh with. the toothed portions of the timing gears, but such rotation is prevented when the gears are not meshed." Arcuateopenings or slots at are provided in timing gears44 and 45-, andin earns 48 and 49. A bolt b extends through these openings to lock the cams and timing gears together so that when the relative positions of each element are. properly adjusted on shaft 41, they will be retained in such position. Theopenings aremade arcuate so that slight adjustments may be made both in relation of the cams and timing gears to each other, and the cams and timing gears relativeto the-spur gears 46 and 41'.

A ramming slide 53 (see Figs. 2, 5, and 8) operates in a slideway cut in the supporting member 22; The forward faceiscounterbored so as to avoid contacting the primers in the cartridges. This slideway, and the. slide, may be dovetailed as. shown in the preferred embodiment'soas to retain the ramming slide in position, but the sides charge end of the chute Therefora upon each forward movement of the rammin slide 53, which rams a cartridge into a link of the link belt, the

belt is advanced one link so that the belt will be positioned to receive the next cartridge. A fiat U -shaped spring 66, attached at the outlet of the link chute 29, presses against the links as they pass out of the machine so as to prevent the weight of the links in the other part of the chute from prematurely forcing the links past the rammingmechanism. The pivoted fingers 61' and 68 see Fig. 3) are alsov provided in the link chute so as to prevent the link from backing up when the link advancing slide 59 pulls the pawls 62 and 63; back over-the links on: its return stroke.

A stop feed mechanism is also provided which isv shown in detail. in Figs. 3, 5,. and 11. This mechanism. comprises two; horizontally disposed rods 69 and H, whicharesupported at their ends so. as to. be. free to.rotate,.one on each side of the feed mechanism. The meshing. gear segments "(.2 and 73. are fixed. to theends of these rods so as to provide coactive rotation of the rods. The

arms: 14: are. attached to the rods. 69. and H and project upwardly outside of. the feed mechanism. These arms are provided at their upper ends withv arcuate fingers. 1.5, which. project inwardly t'owardsthe feed mechanism and can be inserted through appropriate openingsintothe hoppers 3.1 and 32' in the path of the dropping cartridges when the rods 69 and II are rotated. An operat ing handle 76 isattached to the rod! I, and movement of this handle will rotate rod H and also rod 69' throughthe coacting gearsegments Hand 13. The fingers T5 are held in the inoperative position outside of the feed magazine, by the spring 17.. A vertically extending plate 18, attached to one side of the ramming slide 53, is provided with a horizontal slot so as to clear the operating handle Hi when it is in the lower, or inoperative position. The top-of the plate 18 is at a height suflicient tomaintain the operating handle 7% in an operative position during the course of one stroke of theramming slide.

In operating the belt loader, the ammunition is first put in the hoppers and the link chute is filled with links. During operation, this chute should be kept as nearly full of links as possible while the rounds of ammunition should be kept at onev of its ends to the ramming slide 53 by'a bearing which is -formed on the end of a projection extending through a slot cut in the support222', and at the other end to the crank arm 28, by means ofthebeari'ng 5t. Rotation of the shaft atzthus results in reciprocation of the ramming slideiaas well as operation of the gates'34and35.

The mechanism for advancing the links 51 is shown. in detail in Figures 8, 9, and 10. A plate 58,. having a slot Frau-therein is attached to and moveswith the ramming slide-53. A link advancing slide '59 movesin'l the link chute ZQ. A stud 8!, on top o'fthe slide 59', projects through a slot cut in the top of'thelink chute and engages slot 58a. in the plate 58; The'slot 58a in the plate 58 is placed-at an angle to the direction of movement of the plate and ramming slide-sothat the reciprocating movement of the ramming slide 53 will produce corresponding reciprocatory movements of. the link advancing slide 591 Pawls 62 and- 83, pivoted. to slide 59 at 64 and fii'i respectively, engage-the links 551: and urge them towards thedissupplied to the hoppers and to the hopper trays 3m and 32a. When current issupplied to the motor 23, the rotation of shaft 25- will impart. rotation to the shaft 26} through the appropriate gearing inbox 24. The shaft 26 will'then impart a reciprocating motionto the ramming slide' 53 through the crank arm- 28 and connectingrod. 54, while at the same time the timing shaft 4| will be rotatedthrough-the bevel gears 21 and 20; R0- tation of the timing shaft will cause one of the gates 34-- or 35- to be rotated, depending upon which of the-timing-gears 44 or isin mesh with the spur gear 46 or 4-7. Assoon as one of the gates has been rotated so that its open. side is facing downwardly, asexemplified by the gate 34 in Fig. 11, the round will drop from the gate. and down on top of theramming slide, as shown in the dotted lines in Fig.2. As the ramming. slide 53 is drawn backwardly; the round will dropdown, nose first, into the V-shaped trough 19. A slight depression 8 l, in the forward end of this. trough, is provided for the nose of the bullet to rest against as shown also in the dotted-lines in Fig. 2, This depression prevents: the round from moving" forward until itihas dropped completely into the trough 19, which occurs when the ramming slide has been moved back to the limit; of its stroke. While the ramming slide 53 is moving back, the cam 58 (see Fig. 8) will also be moved back and at the same time will advance the link advancing slide 59, which in turn, through the pawls 62 and 63 (Fig. 10) will advance the links 5'! one space so that an empty link will at this point be located just in front of the nose of the bullet which is lying in the trough 19. Further operation of the mechanism will result in the ramming slide 53 being moved forward thus pushing the round directly into the empty link in front of it. On the forward movement of the ramming slide, the movement of the cam plate 58 will return the link advancing slide 59 to the position shown in Fig. 10. On this stroke, the slide 59 exerts no influence on the links 51 because the pawls 62 and 63 simply slide over the tops of the links. Assuming that gate 34 is intended to make only one revolution to every three of the gate 35, it will be apparent that when the round which dropped from the gate 34 has been rammed into position the next round will be dropped out of the gate 35 and out of the top of the ramming slide in the same fashion as that which was previously dropped from gate 34. The next succeeding three cartridges following that which dropped from gate 34 will drop from gate 35 and be rammed into the links 51 in the same fashion as already described. As a result, when the belt is completed, no matter what its length may be, every fourth cartridge will be a tracer and all the others will be ball or service ammunition. It

will be understood that by substituting gear se merits provided with other ratios of gear teeth, other proportions of feed between the tracer and service ammunition may be obtained.

When it is desired to break the belt, this can be accomplished by the feed stop mechanism which prevents the feeding of one round of ammunition to the ramming slide so that when the belt comes out of the machine there will be no cartridge to join together the two adjacent links at this point and the belt will separate. The feed stop mechanism is operated by lifting the handle 16 (Figs. 3 and 11) for space of time just long enough to withhold one round from the ramming mechanism. Examining Figure 11, it will be seen that an upward movement of the handle 13 will place the fingers 15 in the path of the cartridges in both hoppers 3i and 32. Thus, no matter whether gate 34 of 35 is in position to receive a cartridge, and only one of them will be, it will be prevented from receiving it as long as the fingers l5 prevent their progress. The purpose of the plate 18 is to prevent operation of the feed stop mechanism for longer than is necessary to withhold one round from the belt. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the horizontal slot in the plate 18 will prevent lifting the handle until the ramming slide is in its forward position. If the handle is then lifted, the plate 18, which moves with the ramming slide 53, will almost immediatel return and pass under the handle I6 and thus hold it in position during one entire cycle of operation of the ramming slide, after which the handle is returned to its usual position by the spring 11. While the cartridge which was dropped on top of the ramming slide during the previous stroke will be rammed into position, nevertheless, one of the gates, depending upon which was in position to receive a cartridge, will now be empty and when it next comes time for that one to drop a cartridge upon the ramming slide there will be r the supporting member 22.

none to fall and consequently at that point no cartridge will be rammed into the links 51.

A modification of the subject invention is shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14. The principal difference in this form is in the provision of a continuous belt ramming mechanism. In this modified form of the invention, shaft 82 is rotated by a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor (not shown). This rotational movement is transferred to shaft 26 by means of the bevel gears 83 and 84. The crank 28 is attached to this shaft 26 above the gears and operates the slide 85 through the connecting link 54. The slide 85 reciprocates in a slideway 86 which is attached to one side of The cam plate 58 is attached to the slide 85, and operates the link advancing slide 59 to feed the links 51, in the same manner as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 11.

The ramming mechanism comprises the endless chains 8! carried by the two sets of double sprockets 89 and 89 which rotate with the shafts 9| and 92. These shafts are supported on bearings in the bed-plate 93 Which is attached to the supporting member 22. A plurality of ramming fingers 94 are pivotally attached between the chains 87 on suitable pins 95 which extend from one chain to the other. Movement of the chains is effected by the gear 96, attached to shaft 9!, which gear meshes with gear 97 fixed to the power shaft 82.

The timing mechanism is the same as that used in the principal form of the invention but may be mounted at the other end of the feed magazine as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, so as to provide for convenient disposition of the working parts. The timing shaft 4! is rotated through suitable bevel gears 98, 99, I0! and I02, countershaft I93, and idler gears IE4 and I05, (the latter meshing with the gear I96 attached to shaft 92). Shaft 92 is turned by the sprockets 89, engaging the chains 81, operated as described above. Any other suitable means could be used to transmit motion to the timing shaft, providing that such means is suitably geared to the other operating mechanism. In the operation of this modification of the invention, the gates 34 and 35 are operated by the timing mechanism, and the links 51 are advanced in the link chute 29, in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment. But instead of being rammed into the links by a reciprocating ramming slide, the rounds of ammunition are pushed forward by the ramming fingers 94.

Referring to Fig. 12, it will be seen that a cartridge has just fallen on to the trough l9 and is just being engaged by the finger 94 as shown in the full-line portion of the drawings. As a chain 81 moves forward the fi ger 94 moves forward through a slot provided in the bottom of the trough 19, While the tail of the finger is supported by the bed-plate 93. When the ramming finger reaches the point at which the bed-plate is cut away, the cartridge will be fully rammed into position and the finger will fall away as shown by 94a in the dotted-line portion of the drawings. Further movement of the chain 8! will be neces sary before the next ramming finger will come into position to begin the next operation. During this interval the cam plate 58 will be moved forward so as to advance another link into position in the link chute, while one or the other of the gates 34 or 35 will deposit another cartridge on the trough 19, after which the cycle of opertions will be repeated.

While th invention has been described with vention pertains, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is my intention, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used' by or for the Government of th United States of America. for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for automatically forming a continuous disintegrating type cartridge belt comprising cyclically operating ramming mechanism for ramming into adjacent interfitting links cartridge advancing along a prescribed path, and means normally displaced from the path of the cartridges but optionally movable thereinto for withholding cartridges from said ramming mechanism during at least a single cycle of its operation for breaking the belt. I

2. A machine for automatically forming a continuous disintegrating type cartridge belt by ramming cartridges into adjacent interfitting links,

- comprising a ramming mechanism, a cartridge hopper in communication with the ramming mechanism for feeding cartridges to the ramming mechanism, means'normally retracted from the hopper but movable thereinto for detaining ca tridges in said hopper, means on said ramming mechanism for retaining said detaining means in detaining position during a cycle of operation of the ramming mechanism and then enabling retraction to normal position.

3. A belt loading device comprising a cartridge magazine, a ramming mechanism including a reciprocating ramming slide making successive ramming and retrograde stroke with respect to the magazine, means for feeding a cartridge from said magazine to said mechanism on each retl grade stroke of the slide, a link chute, means actuated by said ramming mechanism for advancing a link from said chute on each retrograde stroke of the slide into position to be loaded with a cartridge by th ramming mechanism on the ramming stroke of the slide thereby to complete a cycle of operation, and means for retaining a cartridge from the ramming mechanism during a cycle of operation for breaking the cartridge belt.

4. A belt loading machine comprising a plurality of cartridge hoppers, a ramming mechanism including a reciprocating ramming slide making successive ramming and retrograde strokes with respect to the hoppers, means for feeding a cartridge from said hoppers in a selected order to said mechanism on each retrograde stroke of the slide, a link chute, means actuated by said ramming mechanism for advancing a link from said chute on each retrograde stroke of the slide into position to be loaded with a cartridge by the ramming mechanism on the ramming stroke of the slide thereby to complete a cycle of operation, and means for retaining cartridges in all hoppers from the ramming mechanism during a cycle of operation of the machine for breaking the cartridge belt.

5. In a feeding mechanism, a plurality of hoppers, each for containing articles of diiferent types, a rotatable gate for each hopper, means operable with a constant rotarymotion, permuted drive means between the operable means and each of the gates, for imparting a diversity of numbers of rotations to said gates in a prearoperable with a constant rotary motion, permuted drive means between the operable means and each of the gates for imparting single full rotations to oneof the gates and succeeding plu- P ral rotations to another gate, and means for preventing rotation of the gates during interim periods of non-rotation.

7. In an article feeding mechanism, a hopper for containing the article supply, a revoluble gate for the hopper, a spur gear connected with the gate, a constantly rotatable mutilated timing gear, the tooth course of which is periodically engageable with the spur gear to impart a full revolution to the gate, and locking means connected with the timing gear and gate, mutually engaging to hold the gate stationary in the interim between tooth course and spur gear engagements.

8. Ina mechanism for feeding articles of at least two kinds, hoppers for containing the articles of the several kinds, a revoluble gate for each hopper, a spur gear connected to each of the gates, driving means operable with a constant rotary motion, mutilated timing gears connected to the driving means, said gears having tooth courses consisting of predetermined multiples of the spur gear tooth courses, there being one timing gear for each of the gates, the tooth courses of the'timing gears being angularly separated with respect to each other to space their engagements with the spur gears and thus vary the sequence of full revolution of each gate, and locking means connected with the driving means and gates, becoming operative in the interim between timing gear and spur gear engagements to hold the respective gate stationary.

9. In an article feeding mechanism, a revoluble gate for passing articles in succession, a spur gear connected to the gate, driving means operable with a constant rotary motion, a mutilated timing gear connected to the driving means having a tooth course at least as long as the toothcircumference of the gear thereby to cause a full revolution of the gate upon engagement of the teeth, and locking means independent of the gears, having components respectively connected to the driving means and gate, said components mutually engaging in the interim between tooth engagements to hold the gate stationary.

'10. In a machine for forming a cartridge belt by ramming cartridges into adjacent interfitting links, said machine comprising a ramming mechanism, a cartridge hopper for feeding cartridges to the ramming mechanism, movablemeans assuming a displaced position withrespect to the hopper but being movable with respect to the hopper to intercept the cartridges, and a plate carried by the ramming mechanism onto which a portion of the movable means is superimposed to support said means in the intercepting position during a cycle of operation of the ramming mechanism.

A. L. BUREAU. 

